Ministry of Justice clarifies incident involving prisoner's appearance on podcast

On August 26, 2026, the Cyprus Ministry of Justice addressed reports regarding a high-security prisoner who appeared in a podcast. The Ministry clarified that prisoners have a recognized right to communicate with the outside world, specifically through two monthly sessions via the official Microsoft Teams system, which is particularly beneficial for foreign detainees whose families reside abroad.

Regarding the specific incident, the authorities stated that the communication was authorized for a pre-approved contact and took place under staff supervision in a designated area. The Ministry emphasized that the prisoner did not possess a mobile phone, had no unrestricted internet access, and the session was meant for personal contact rather than a journalistic interview. The unauthorized recording appears to have been made by the individual on the other end of the call without the prison's knowledge or consent.